AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION AND RETRIEVAL OF MESSAGE ATTACHMENTS IN A MESSAGE CONVERSATION

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Electronic messaging, such as email, is widely used to enable communication between users via computer networks. Often, messages are generated as replies to previous messages and a chain of messages, or a message conversation, is established. A message typically contains a header, containing information such as the network address of the sender and intended recipients, a text-based message body and, optionally, a data file attachment. During the course of a message conversation, multiple data files may be exchanged between the participants in the message conversation.

[0002] It may be desired to identify and retrieve messages exchanged during a message conversation. For example, when one or more new participants are added to message conversation, it may be desirable to send some of the previously exchanged data files to the new participants to enable them to participate fully in the conversation. Currently, a user has to choose between forwarding the entire conversation to a new participant or sorting through prior emails to find attachments and manually attaching them to a message. The first approach may be undesirable, since it may be undesirable to send some of the conversation or some of the data files to the new recipients. The second approach requires multiple user steps and is inefficient.

[0003] It would be useful to provide a method for efficiently identifying and retrieving messages previously exchanged during a message conversation, and for sending the messages, to new participants in the conversation.

[0004] US 2009/0319618 relates to displaying a list of file attachments associated with a message thread of an email application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the included drawings such that like reference numerals refer to like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an end-user communication device, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a messaging system, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for automatic forwarding of message attachments, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG's 4-7 are diagrammatic views of an exemplary display of an end-user communication device, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a further method for automatic forwarding of message attachments, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the disclosure; and

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a further method for retrieving message attachments exchanged in a message conversation, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0006] For simplicity and clarity of illustration, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the illustrative embodiments described herein. The embodiments may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the disclosed embodiments. The description is not to be considered as limited to the scope of the embodiments shown and described herein. The invention is defined by the accompanying independent claims. Additional aspects are defined in the accompanying dependent claims.

[0007] An aspect of the present disclosure relates to an end-user communication device of a messaging system. The messaging device may be a desktop, portable, laptop or tablet computer, for example, or a smartphone, or any electronic device have a messaging capability.

[0008] An end-user communication device, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, is shown in FIG. 1. The end-user communication device 100 includes a processor 102, operatively coupled to a memory 104 and a graphical display 106. The device 100 may also include various other peripheral devices and subsystems 108, together with user input devices 110. The user input devices 110 may include, for example, a keyboard, a voice input, a touch pad, and/or a pointing stick. In addition, the display 106 may be a touch sensitive display to enable user input. The device 100 also includes an interface 112 with a messaging system. The interface 112 may be a wireless interface, having antenna 114. The interface 112 may be a wired interface.

[0009] The end-user communication device 100 is operable to send and receive messages over a messaging system. In some embodiments the messages are electronic mail (email) messages. The messages may be sent over the Internet using an SMTP/MIME (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension) for example. SMTP specifies the transfer of simple text messages, while MIME enables data files of any type to be inserted into the message. In particular, one or more data files may be attached to an email in the form of one or more attachments.

[0010] In one embodiment, the device is configured to execute a messaging application, such as an email client application, for receiving and sending messages. For example, a local email client may be used using POP or IMAP, or a network-based system may be used using HTTP or HTTPS, for example. Messages may be exchanged between the device and one or more message recipients.

[0011] Often, a chain of messages, referred to as a message conversation, may be formed where, following an initial message, each message is a reply to a preceding message. The chain may be recognized by a variety of methods. For example, a common 'subject' line may be present in a message header, or the message may be generated by requesting a 'reply' to a received message (rather than being created as a new message).

[0012] Some messages in the collection of messages forming the message conversation may contain data file attachments. For example, a document may be circulated for discussion or editing. Updated versions of the document or additional documents may be added. Various techniques for recognizing messages in a conversation will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0013] In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, a method is provided for an end-user communication device of a messaging system, to identify a chain of sent and received messages of a message conversation, identify one or more data files attached to at least one message of the chain of messages of the message conversation; and display identifiers of the one or more data files on a display of the end-user communication device. In this way, multiple exchanged attachments may be identified without a user having to manually search through a list of previously exchanged messages.

[0014] The identifiers of the discovered messages may be displayed to the user to enable selection of one or more data files. Responsive to selection of one or more identified data files, the one or more selected data files may be automatically retrieved. The data files may be retrieved from a memory of the devices, or when a data is not found on the device, the data files may be retrieved from a server of the messaging system.

[0015] In one embodiment, the exchanged messages may be identified in response to a direct user request.

[0016] In a further embodiment, the exchanged messages are identified when new message recipients in a message conversation.

[0017] The message conversation originates as a conversation between two or more participants. However, at any point in an ongoing message conversation it may be desirable to add additional participants. Further, when replying to a message in a message conversation, it may be desirable that the new participants receive copies of the attachments previously exchanged during the conversation.

[0018] In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, an end-user communication device responds to a request to add one or more new recipients in a reply to a message of a chain of messages of a message conversation by displaying, on the graphical display, an option to forward one or more data files to the one or more new recipients, the one or more data files comprising data files attached to at least one message of the chain of messages of the message conversation. A list of previously exchanged attachments is displayed and the user may select or deselect attachments to be sent to the new recipients. Responsive to selection of one or more data files, the device automatically retrieves the data files and attaches them to the message to be sent to the one or more new recipients via the interface to the messaging system. In this manner, the previously exchanged attachments are made available to new recipients so that they can participate in the ongoing message conversation.

[0019] If a first data file to be attached is stored in the local memory 104 of the device 100, the data file can be read from the memory and inserted into the message.

[0020] If the first data file is not stored in the local memory, or cannot be found in the local memory (because a filename change for example), the first data file may be retrieved by downloading from a server of the messaging system using the interface 112 with the messaging system and incorporated into the message.

[0021] In a further embodiment, the message to be sent to the new recipients may be generated on a remote computer in response to instructions from the end-user communication device. The remote computer may be, for example, a messaging system server or a computer that has access to the messaging system server. In this embodiment, the end-user communication device makes a request to the remote computer and sends it the network addresses of the new participants. The end-user communication device may interact with the remote computer to select which data files are to be sent to the new participants.

[0022] In this way, attachments are efficiently and quickly provided to the new participants in the conversation with minimal user input.

[0023] Previously, a user wishing to add new participants to an ongoing message conversation would have to search through all messages in the conversation, find messages with attachments and then manually generate messages to send the attachments to the new participants. This is inefficient, particularly if the conversation is lengthy. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a messaging system 200 in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. The messaging system 200 includes an end-user communication device 100 that is operable to communicate with one or more messaging system servers 202 via a network 204. The network 204 may include one or more network components such as a cellular telephone network, the Internet, a local area network, etc. The messaging system server 202 has a storage element 206 that may be used to store messages passed to or sent from the end-user device 100. A variety of messaging protocols are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. A messaging conversation takes place between the end-user communication device 100 and one or more recipient end-user devices 208 using the network 204', which may be a branch of the network 204, or a different network. One or more end-user communication devices 210 of new participants receive messages from the messaging system server 202 via network 204", which again may be a branch of the network 204, or a different network.

[0024] It should be noted that an end-user device is any device used by any end-user to access messages at a particular message address. A single user may use different physical devices, such as a smartphone and a computer, to send and receive their messages. Further, a particular message address may be shared by multiple users and accessed using different devices.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a flow chart 300 of a method for automatic provision of message attachments in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. Following start block 302, a messaging application is executed on an end-user communication device. The application may be a local application or a network-based application, such as a Web application accessed through a browser. At decision block 304, the application determines if a message reply being generated is part of a chain of messages and if new recipients have been added to the list of recipients. If the message is not part of a chain, or no new recipients have been added, the reply is sent at block 320 and the method ends at block 322. Conversely, if the message is part of a chain and new recipients have been added, as depicted by the positive branch from decision block 304, the application determines, at decision block 306, if attachments are to be sent to the new recipients. For example, a user prompt, such as a checkbox, button, banner or the like, may be displayed to enable the user to select if previously exchanged attachments are to be sent to the new recipients. If attachments are to be sent, as depicted by the positive branch from decision block 306, the application prompts the user to select which of the previously exchanged attachments are to be sent at block 308. At block 310, any locally stored attachments are retrieved and at block 312 any remotely stored attachments are retrieved. At block 314 the attachments are inserted into the message. Optionally, at block 316, timestamps is inserted into the message to indicate when each attachment was originally sent. Optionally, at block 318, an identifier (ID) of the original sender of each attachment is also inserted. At block 320 the reply message is sent, together with any selected attachments. Thus, when new recipients are added to a message conversation, attachments previously exchanged during the conversion are conveniently added to the message. In this manner, the selected attachments are sent to the new participants. The method terminates at block 322.

[0026] In accordance with one embodiment, the selected attachments are sent only to the new recipients. For example, two versions of the reply message may be generated automatically, one for previous recipients without the selected attachments and one for the new recipients, with the selected attachments. Alternatively, the reply message may include instructions for the messaging system, specifying which recipients should receive the selected attachments.

[0027] In a further embodiment, the selected attachments are sent to all recipients to ensure, for example, that a common set of data files is available to all recipients.

[0028] FIG's 4-7 are diagrammatic views of an exemplary display 106, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. The display may be, for example, the display of a smartphone or other end-user communication device. The views depict a graphical user interface displayed at certain times during creation of a reply message in a chain of messages.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, the graphical user interface shown on display 106 depicts a message containing a message header, which indicates the addressee 402, to whom the reply is being made, and the subject 404 of the message, in addition to a message body 406.

[0030] Referring to FIG. 5, the graphical user interface shown on display 106 indicates that a user has added new recipients 502 for the reply message. The new recipients are shown in the header region of the display 106. The device, which has access to a record of the preceding message conversation, determines that new recipients have been added and also determines if one or more attachments have been exchanged in prior messages. If attachments have been exchanged, an interface control element 504 is displayed to provide the user an option to attach the previously exchanged attachments to the reply message. The interface control element 504 may be a banner, as shown, a checkbox, a button, or other control element.

[0031] If an indication is received that the user wishes to add the attachments, for example responsive to the user clicking or touching interface control element 504, the previously exchanged attachments may be displayed as depicted in FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 6, the graphical user interface indicates, in this example, that two attachments 602 have been exchanged. The graphical user interface also displays controls 604 to enable the user to deselect either attachment. Alternatively, a checkbox may be provided to enable the user to select or deselect attachments. In addition to the data file attachments 602, timestamps 606 may be inserted into the message to indicate when the attachment was sent, and sender ID's 608 may be inserted to indicate who originally sent the attachment.

[0032] If an attachment is stored in a local memory of the device, the attachment may be retrieved before the message is sent. If an attachment is not stored locally, it may be downloaded from a remote source, such a message server of the messaging system. This is illustrated in FIG. 7, which depicts an exemplary display 106 while a data file (named "WinningBusinessPlan.pptx" in this example) is downloaded from the remote source. An option to cancel the download may also be presented.

[0033] FIG. 8 is a flow chart 800 of a further method for automatic provision of message attachments in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. Following start block 802, a messaging application is executed on an end-user communication device. The application may be a local application or a network-based application, such as a Web application accessed through a browser. At decision block 804, the application determines if a message reply being generated is part of a chain of messages and if new recipients have been added to the list of recipients. If the message is not part of a chain, or no new recipients have been added, the reply is sent at block 822 and, since no message has been automatically generated, the method ends at block 826. Conversely, if the message is part of a chain and new recipients have been added, as depicted by the positive branch from decision block 804, the application determines, at decision block 806, if attachments are to be sent to the new recipients. For example, user prompt, such as a checkbox, button, banner or the like, is displayed to enable the user to select if previously exchanged attachments are to be sent to the new recipients. If attachments are to be sent, as depicted by the positive branch from decision block 806 the application prompts the user to select which of the previously exchanged attachments are to be sent at block 808. A new message addressed to the new participants is generated automatically at block 810. At block 812 any locally stored attachments are retrieved and at block 814 any remotely stored attachments are retrieved. At block 816 the attachments are inserted into the automatically generated message. Optionally, at block 818, timestamps is inserted into the message to indicate when each attachment was originally sent. Optionally, at block 820, an identifier (ID) of the original sender of the attachment is also inserted. At block 822 the reply message is sent, and at block 824 the automatically generated message, together with the selected attachments, is sent. Thus, when new recipients are added to a message conversation, attachments previously exchanged during the conversion are conveniently added to an automatically generated message that is sent to the new recipients. In this manner, the selected attachments are sent to the new participants. The method terminates at block 826.

[0034] FIG. 9 is a flow chart 900 of a further method for retrieving message attachments exchanged in a message conversation, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. The process begins at block 902 when a request is received to identify messages exchanged during a message conversation. For example, the user may be prompted to make the request when new recipients are added to a reply in the message conversation, or the request may be initiated directly by the user, or the request may be issued by another application executing on the device. The device examines the messages in the conversation and identifies any exchanged data files at block 904. Identifiers or the data files, such as file names or icons for example, are displayed to the user at block 906 to enable the user to select data files to be retrieved. The data files to be retrieved are selected at block 908. At block 910, any selected data files stored in the local memory of the communication device are retrieved and, at block 912, any selected data files that cannot be found in the local memory are retrieved from a remote storage device, such as server of the messaging system. The retrieved files may be stored to a new location, sent as message attachments, or used by other applications, for example. The method terminates at block 914.

[0035] It will be appreciated that any module or component disclosed herein that executes instructions may include or otherwise have access to non-transient and tangible computer readable media such as storage media, computer storage media, or data storage devices (removable or non-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape data storage. Computer storage media may include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Examples of computer storage media include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by an application, module, or both. Any such computer storage media may be part of the server, any component of or related to the network, backend, etc., or accessible or connectable thereto. Any application or module herein described may be implemented using computer readable/executable instructions that may be stored or otherwise held by such computer readable media.

[0036] The implementations of the present disclosure described above are intended to be merely exemplary.

[0037] The scope of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description.

Claims

1. A method, implemented in an end-user communication device (100) of a messaging system (200), comprising,
responsive (304) to a request to add one or more new recipients in a reply to a message of a chain of messages of the message conversation:

identifying one or more attachments to at least one message of the chain of messages of the message conversation;

displaying identifiers of the one or more attachments on a display (106) of the end-user communication device;

displaying an option to forward one or more of the identified attachments to the one or more new recipients; and

responsive to selection of one or more identified attachments:

retrieving the one or more selected attachments;

inserting (314) the one or more selected attachments into a message addressed to the one or more new recipients; and

sending the message to the one or more new recipient.

2. The method of claim 1,
further comprising:
automatically generating a new message addressed to the one or more new recipients,
wherein inserting (314) the one or more attachments into a message addressed to the one or more new recipients comprises inserting the one or more attachments into the automatically generated message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the option to forward one or more attachments to the one or more new recipients comprises:
displaying a graphical control on a graphical display of the end-user communication device, and preferably further comprising:
displaying a list of one or more attachments to be displayed for selection or deselection in response to activation of the graphical control.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein sending the message to the one or more new recipients comprises sending the automatically generated message in response to the reply being sent, and
wherein automatically generating the message comprises:

addressing a message to the one or more new recipients; and

attaching the one or more selected data files to the message as attachments.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the option to forward one or more attachments to the one or more new recipients comprises:
displaying a list of the attachments attached to at least one message of the chain of messages of the message conversation on a graphical display of the end-user communication device, and
wherein inserting a first data file of the selected attachments into the message comprises:
incorporating a link to the first attachment in the message if the first attachment is stored on a server of the messaging system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, for each inserted attachment, adding (316) a timestamp to the message corresponding to a time the attachment was originally exchanged.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein retrieving a first attachment of the one or more selected attachments comprises retrieving (310) the first attachment from a memory of the end-user communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the message addressed to the one or more new recipients comprises:
requesting a remote computer of the messaging system to generate the message, insert the attachments, and send the message to the one or more new recipients.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the messaging system (200) comprises an electronic mail (email) system, or
wherein the end-user communication device (400) comprises a mobile telephone and the messaging system comprising a wireless telephone system, or
wherein the messaging system comprises the Internet.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
responsive to selection of one or more identified attachments:
retrieving the one or more selected attachments;
wherein retrieving a first attachment of the one or more selected attachments comprises retrieving (312) the first attachment from a server of the messaging system when the first attachment is not found in a memory of the end-user communication device.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of an end-user communication device, cause the processor to perform all the steps of the method of any of claims 1 to 9.

12. An end-user communication device (100) comprising:

a graphical display (106);

an interface (112) with a messaging system (200);

a processor (102), operatively coupled to the graphical display and the interface with the messaging system and configured to perform a method comprising:
responsive to a request to add one or more new recipients in a reply to a message of a chain of messages of a message conversation:

identifying one or more attachments to at least one message of the chain of messages of the message conversation;

displaying identifiers of the one or more attachments on the graphical display of the end-user communication device;

displaying, on the graphical display, an option to forward one or more attachments to the one or more new recipients; and

responsive to selection of one or more attachments:

retrieving the one or more selected attachments;

inserting (314) the one or more selected attachments into a message addressed to the one or more new recipients; and

sending the message to the one or more new recipients via the interface to the messaging system.

13. The end-user communication device (100) of claim 12, further comprising:
a memory (104) operatively coupled to the processor (102),
wherein retrieving a first attachment of the one or more selected attachments comprises:
retrieving (310) the first attachment from the memory of the end-user communication device.

14. The end-user communication device of claim 12, wherein retrieving a first attachment of the one or more selected attachments comprises:
retrieving (312) the first attachment from a server of the messaging system using the interface with the messaging system.

15. The end-user communication device of claim 12, wherein the end-user communication device (100) comprises a smartphone, or
wherein messaging system (200) comprises an electronic mail (email) system.

Ansprüche

1. Verfahren, implementiert in einem Endbenutzerkommunikationsgerät (100) eines Nachrichtenübermittlungssystems (200), umfassend,
in Reaktion (304) auf eine Anforderung zum Hinzufügen von einem oder mehr neuen Empfängern in einer Antwort auf eine Nachricht einer Kette von Nachrichten der Nachrichtenkonversation:

Identifizieren von einem oder mehr Anhängen von zumindest einer Nachricht der Kette von Nachrichten der Nachrichtenkonversation;

Anzeigen von Kennungen des einen oder mehr Anhängen auf einer Anzeige (106) des Endbenutzerkommunikationsgeräts;

Anzeigen einer Option zum Weiterleiten von einem oder mehr der identifizierten Anhänge an den einen oder mehr neue Empfänger; und,

in Reaktion auf die Auswahl von einem oder mehr identifizierten Anhängen:

Abrufen des einen oder mehr ausgewählten Anhänge;

Einfügen (314) des einen oder mehr ausgewählten Anhänge in eine Nachricht, die an den einen oder mehr neuen Empfänger adressiert ist; und

Senden der Nachricht an den einen oder mehr neuen Empfänger.

2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, ferner umfassend:

automatisches Erstellen einer neuen Nachricht, die an den einen oder mehr neuen Empfänger adressiert ist,

wobei das Einfügen (314) des einen oder mehr Anhänge in eine Nachricht, die an den einen oder mehr neuen Empfänger adressiert ist, das Einfügen des einen oder mehr Anhänge in die automatisch erstellte Nachricht umfasst.

3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Anzeigen der Option zum Weiterleiten von einem oder mehr Anhängen an den einen oder mehr neue Empfänger umfasst:
Anzeigen einer grafischen Steuerung auf einer grafischen Anzeige des Endbenutzerkommunikationsgeräts, und vorzugsweise ferner umfassend:
Anzeigen einer Liste von einem oder mehr Anhängen, die zur Auswahl oder Abwahl angezeigt werden sollen, in Reaktion auf die Aktivierung der grafischen Steuerung.

4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 2, wobei das Senden der Nachricht an den einen oder mehr neuen Empfänger Senden der automatisch erstellten Nachricht in Reaktion darauf, dass die Antwort gesendet wird, umfasst, und
wobei das automatische Erstellen der Nachricht umfasst:

Adressieren einer Nachricht an den einen oder mehr neue Empfänger; und

Anhängen der einen oder mehr ausgewählten Dateien als Anhänge an die Nachricht.

5. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Anzeigen der Option zum Weiterleiten von einem oder mehr Anhängen an den einen oder mehr neue Empfänger umfasst:

Anzeigen einer Liste der Anhänge, die an zumindest eine Nachricht der Kette von Nachrichten der Nachrichtenkonversation angehängt sind, auf einer grafischen Anzeige des Endbenutzerkommunikationsgeräts, und

wobei das Einfügen einer ersten Datei der ausgewählten Anhänge in die Anhänge umfasst:
Eingliedern eines Links zum ersten Anhang in die Nachricht, wenn der erste Anhang auf einem Server des Nachrichtenübermittlungssystems gespeichert ist.

6. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, ferner umfassend, für jeden eingefügten Anhang, Hinzufügen (316) eines Zeitstempels zur Nachricht, der einer Zeit entspricht, zu der der Anhang ursprünglich ausgetauscht wurde.

7. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Abrufen eines ersten Anhangs des einen oder mehr ausgewählten Anhänge Abrufen (310) des ersten Anhangs aus einem Speicher des Endbenutzerkommunikationsgeräts umfasst.

8. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Erstellen der Nachricht, die an den einen oder mehr neuen Empfänger adressiert ist, umfasst:
Anfordern eines entfernten Rechners des Nachrichtenübermittlungssystems zum Erstellen der Nachricht, Einfügen der Anhänge und Senden der Nachricht an den einen oder mehr neue Empfänger.

9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Nachrichtenübermittlungssystem (200) ein elektronisches Post- (E-Mail-) System umfasst, oder wobei das Endbenutzerkommunikationsgerät (400) ein Mobiltelefon umfasst und das Nachrichtenübermittlungssystem ein drahtloses Telefonsystem umfasst, oder
wobei das Nachrichtenübermittlungssystem das Internet umfasst.

10. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, ferner umfassend:
in Reaktion auf die Auswahl von einem oder mehr identifizierten Anhängen:

Abrufen des einen oder mehr ausgewählten Anhängen;

wobei das Abrufen eines ersten Anhangs des einen oder mehr ausgewählten Anhänge Abrufen (312) des ersten Anhangs von einem Server des Nachrichtenübermittlungssystems umfasst, wenn der erste Anhang nicht in einem Speicher des Endbenutzerkommunikationsgeräts aufgefunden wird.

11. Nichtflüchtiges rechnerlesbares Medium mit rechnerausführbaren Anweisungen, die, wenn sie durch einen Prozessor eines Endbenutzerkommunikationsgeräts ausgeführt werden, bewirken, dass der Prozessor alle die Schritte des Verfahrens nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9 ausführt.

12. Endbenutzerkommunikationsgerät (100), umfassend:

eine grafische Anzeige (106);

eine Schnittstelle (112) mit einem Nachrichtenübermittlungssystem (200);

einen Prozessor (102), der betriebsfähig an die grafische Anzeige und die Schnittstelle mit dem Nachrichtenübermittlungssystem gekoppelt ist und zum Ausführen eines Verfahrens konfiguriert ist, welches umfasst:
in Reaktion auf eine Anforderung zum Hinzufügen von einem oder mehr neuen Empfängern in einer Antwort auf eine Nachricht einer Kette von Nachrichten der Nachrichtenkonversation:

Identifizieren von einem oder mehr Anhängen von zumindest einer Nachricht der Kette von Nachrichten der Nachrichtenkonversation;

Anzeigen von Kennungen des einen oder mehr Anhängen auf der grafischen Anzeige des Endbenutzerkommunikationsgeräts;

Anzeigen, auf der grafischen Anzeige, einer Option zum Weiterleiten von einem oder mehr identifizierten Anhängen an den einen oder mehr neue Empfänger; und,

in Reaktion auf die Auswahl von einem oder mehr Anhängen:

Abrufen des einen oder mehr ausgewählten Anhänge;

Einfügen (314) des einen oder mehr ausgewählten Anhänge in eine Nachricht, die an den einen oder mehr neuen Empfänger adressiert ist; und

Senden der Nachricht an den einen oder mehr neuen Empfänger über die Schnittstelle zum Nachrichtenübermittlungssystem.

13. Endbenutzerkommunikationsgerät (100) nach Anspruch 12, ferner umfassend:

einen Speicher (104), der betriebsfähig an den Prozessor (102) gekoppelt ist,

wobei das Abrufen eines ersten Anhangs des einen oder mehr ausgewählten Anhänge umfasst:
Abrufen (310) des ersten Anhangs aus dem Speicher des Endbenutzerkommunikationsgeräts.

14. Endbenutzerkommunikationsgerät nach Anspruch 12, wobei das Abrufen eines ersten Anhangs des einen oder mehr ausgewählten Anhänge umfasst:
Abrufen (312) des ersten Anhangs von einem Server des Nachrichtenübermittlungssystems unter Benutzung der Schnittstelle mit dem Nachrichtenübermittlungssystem.

15. Endbenutzerkommunikationsgerät nach Anspruch 12, wobei das Endbenutzerkommunikationsgerät (100) ein Smartphone umfasst, oder
wobei das Nachrichtenübermittlungssystem (200) ein elektronisches Post- (E-Mail-) System umfasst.

Revendications

1. Procédé, implémenté dans un dispositif de communication d'utilisateur final (100) d'un système de messagerie (200), comprenant de :
en réponse (304) à une demande pour ajouter un ou plusieurs nouveaux destinataires dans une réponse à un message d'une chaîne de messages de la conversation de message :

identifier une ou plusieurs pièces jointes à au moins un message de la chaîne de message de la conversation de message ;

afficher des identifiants d'une ou plusieurs pièces jointes sur un écran (106) du dispositif de communication d'utilisateur final ;

afficher une option pour acheminer une ou plusieurs des pièces jointes identifiées vers un ou plusieurs nouveaux destinataires ; et en réponse à la sélection d'une ou plusieurs pièces jointes identifiées :

extraire une ou plusieurs pièces jointes sélectionnées ;

insérer (314) une ou plusieurs pièces jointes sélectionnées dans un message adressé à un ou plusieurs destinataires ; et

envoyer le message à un ou plusieurs nouveaux destinataires.

2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre de :
générer automatiquement un nouveau message adressé à un ou plusieurs nouveaux destinataires, dans lequel l'insertion (314) d'une ou plusieurs pièces jointes dans un message adressé à un ou plusieurs destinataire comprends d'insérer une ou plusieurs pièces jointes dans le message généré automatiquement.

3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'affichage de l'option pour acheminer une ou plusieurs pièces jointes vers un ou plusieurs destinataires comprend de :
afficher une commande graphique sur un écran graphique du dispositif de communication d'utilisateur final et de préférence comprenant en outre de :
afficher une liste d'une ou plusieurs pièces jointes à afficher en vue d'une sélection ou désélection en réponse à l'activation de la commande graphique.

4. Procédé selon la revendication 2, dans lequel l'envoi du message vers un ou plusieurs nouveaux destinataires comprend d'envoyer le message généré automatiquement en réponse à la réponse étant envoyée, et
dans lequel la génération automatique du message comprend de :

adresser un message vers un ou plusieurs nouveaux destinataires ; et

rattacher un ou plusieurs fichiers de données sélectionnées au message comme des pièces jointes.

5. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'affichage de l'option d'acheminer une ou plusieurs pièces jointes vers un ou plusieurs nouveaux destinataires comprend de :

afficher une liste des pièces jointes rattachées à au moins un message d'une chaîne de messages de la conversation de messages sur un écran graphique du dispositif de communication d'utilisateur final, et

dans lequel l'insertion d'un premier fichier de données des pièces jointes sélectionnées dans le message comprend de :
incorporer un lien vers la première pierre jointe dans le message si la première pièce jointe est mémorisée sur un serveur de système de messagerie.

6. Procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre, pour chaque pièce jointe insérée, d'ajouter (316) un pointeur temporel au message correspondant à une heure à laquelle la pièce jointe a été échangée à l'origine.

7. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel une première pièce jointe d'une ou plusieurs pièces jointes sélectionnées comprend d'extraire (310) la première pièce jointe d'une mémoire du dispositif de communication d'utilisateur final.

8. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la génération du message adressé à un ou plusieurs destinataires comprend de :
demander à un ordinateur distant du système de messagerie de générer le message, insérer des pièces jointes et envoyer le message à un ou plusieurs nouveaux destinataires.

9. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le système de messagerie (200) comprend un système de courrier électronique (e-mail) ou
dans lequel le dispositif de communication d'utilisateur final (400) comprend un téléphone mobile et le système de messagerie comprend un système téléphonique sans fil ou dans lequel le système de messagerie comprend l'Internet.

10. Procédé selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre de :
en réponse à la sélection d'une ou plusieurs pièces jointes identifiées :
extraire une ou plusieurs pièces jointes sélectionnées ; dans lequel l'extraction d'une première pièce jointe de plusieurs pièces jointes sélectionnées comprend d'extraire (312) la première pièce jointe d'un serveur de messagerie lorsque la première pièce jointe n'est pas trouvée dans une mémoire du dispositif de communication d'utilisateur final.

11. Support lisible par ordinateur non transitoire renfermant des instructions exécutables par ordinateur qui, lorsqu'elles sont exécutées par un processeur d'un dispositif de communication d'utilisateur final, amène le processeur à mettre en œuvre toutes les étapes du procédé selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9.

12. Dispositif de communication d'utilisateur final (100) comprenant :

un écran graphique (106) ;

une interface (112) avec un système de messagerie (200) ;

un processeur (102), couplé opérationnellement à l'écran graphique et l'interface de système de messagerie et configuré pour mettre en œuvre un procédé comprenant de :

en réponse à une demande pour ajouter un ou plusieurs destinataires dans une réponse à un message d'une chaîne de messages ou une conversation de message : identifier une ou plusieurs pièces jointes à au moins un message de la chaîne de messages de la conversation de message ;

afficher les identifiants de plusieurs pièces jointes sur l'écran graphique du dispositif de communication d'utilisateur final ;

afficher, sur l'écran graphique, une option pour acheminer une ou plusieurs pieds jointes vers un ou plusieurs nouveaux destinataires ;

et en réponse à la sélection d'une ou plusieurs pièces jointes :

extraire une ou plusieurs pièces jointes sélectionnées ;

insérer (314) une ou plusieurs pièces jointes sélectionnées dans un message adressé à un ou plusieurs nouveaux destinataires ; et

envoyer le message à un ou plusieurs nouveaux destinataires via l'interface avec le système de messagerie.

13. Dispositif de communication d'utilisateur final (100) selon la revendication 12, comprenant en outre:
une mémoire (104) couplée opérationnellement au processeur (102), dans lequel l'extraction d'une première pièce jointe d'une ou plusieurs pièces jointes sélectionnées comprend de :
extraire (310) la première pièce jointe de la mémoire du dispositif de communication d'utilisateur final.

14. Dispositif de communication d'utilisateur final selon la revendication 12, dans lequel l'extraction d'une première pièce jointe d'une ou plusieurs pièces jointes sélectionnées comprend de :
extraire (312) la première pièce jointe d'un serveur du système de messagerie en utilisant l'interface avec le système de messagerie.

15. Dispositif de communication d'utilisateur final selon la revendication 12, dans lequel le dispositif de communication d'utilisateur final (100) comprend un Smartphone, ou dans lequel un système de messagerie (200) comprend un système de courrier électronique (e-mail).

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